Make no mistake; this story is about Andy's love for Sam, her unequivocal, unlimited love for him. When she says, 'My life has no joy without you', that is exactly what she means. Sam loves her and cares for her. He is the ideal man, but the story is about her love for him. She will tease and torment him from time to time. There are instances where he is jealous and forceful with her but the story always boils down to how she feels about him.
Chapter Seven – A Time to Run For Cover
The Crescent Moon was located in what Andy would consider the edge of a commercial district. Although the bar was in a two story building, the adjacent building was taller. There was a major bank at the other end of the street. The lot on the side street behind the bar was paved for parking. It was probably used by office workers during the week, but by eight o'clock on a Thursday night it was the parking place of choice for bar patrons just arriving for a few drinks. From the parking lot, the rear entrance was small but inviting. "There will be more patrons in the bar than you would expect from the cars in this lot. This place is slammed, starting at about 4PM during the week. The bosses come in early, their office staff follows. Serious drinkers who have no one at home waiting, or weren't able to connect with someone earlier are still in the place. Sometimes I'm amazed by the number."
"So, the place is winding down for the night?"
"Not at all, this is just a lull in the evening. All bars have times like this. By nine, the evening crowd will start arriving and build until about midnight. The place closes at three on the weekends. Tomorrow night you and Rodney will be calling 'Last call for alcohol' to a fairly decent crowd." Steven's comments stopped as they waited at the end of the bar for the bartender to finish with the customer he was talking with.
The man behind the bar was mid thirties, fairly tall, with a great body: slim but not skinny, muscled but not gigantic, tan with beautiful dark hair and a killer smile. Andy didn't think Sam was going to get much of a physical description on this guy. She had her man, but she could see where Sam might not be excited to see her work alongside this hunk. Rodney finished his conversation, turned toward them and smiled in recognition. As he approached, "Steven, I've been expecting you. I see you have my assistant with you." He directed his attention to Andy. "If you're half as good a worker as you are a looker, this weekend should be interesting. I'm Rodney Carter, Rodney to the patrons, Rod to my friends, you are?"
"Carol Marcus pleased to meet you. I am a good worker and I'm here to learn from you."
Steven interrupted, "Carol, I'm going to sit here at the bar and have a couple of drinks. If you have questions, don't hesitate. We will stay an hour or so to let you get familiar with what you will have to do tomorrow night. Rodney is a patient instructor." Steven stopped talking, sat on a bar stool and let Andy and her trainer get acquainted.
Andy was directed to the aprons and then for the next half hour she just followed the bartender around and listened to his explaining what he was doing and how he did it. Gradually he had her opening bottles of beer, pulling drafts and making simple hi-balls. Before she knew it Steven was motioning her over to the end of the bar where he sat. "Carol, the hour has worked it's self into over two. I'm tired and I'm sure you are too, whether you realize it or not. Have you and Rodney decided what time he wants you to report tomorrow night?"
"Let me ask him and say my good nights." She moved back to where Rodney was working. "I think I've kept Steven out past his bed time. The time has just flown, and I've already learned a ton. What time do you want me tomorrow?"
"If you can be here by eight again you can help me get stocked up and ready. We'll have a busy night." They talked for several more minutes before Andy turned and headed for the end of the bar.
"Now that I've slowed down, I think I probably am exhausted. I've been on the go since six this morning." Andy talked as she and Steven exited the bar and walked across the parking lot to his car.
"You need to sleep in as late as you can. I'll pick you up about one. We'll go to the classroom and work there for about three hours before I bring you back home. If you can nap before supper you'll be glad you did before the night shift is over. I know, at the Crescent Moon, each shift cleans up and restocks the coolers before they leave. You probably won't get out before 4AM. Remember, comfortable shoes are a must."
The porch light was on when Steven returned her to Jenny and Joe's. There was a light spilling into the foyer; Andy could see it when she rang the front door bell. Jenny opened the door. "Honey, you could have come on in, the door wasn't locked. You must treat our home as your own while you're here."
"Thank you, I didn't just want to barge in." Andy said.
"I left a key on your night stand. We usually are in bed by eleven. Come on back to the den. Joe wants to talk to you about your getting to work and back." Jenny turned and walked away, Andy followed. Joe was engrossed in a drama on TV. The women sat.
As soon as the commercial began Joe turned to Andy. "You'd think I'd get enough police work in my job, but this show has me hooked." He shrugged before continuing. "I wanted to tell you the arrangements I've made for you to get to work and back. Along with the key Jenny left for you in your room, there's the number for the direct line to Dispatch. One of the perks of rank, you call, talk to Simpson or Zuwecki, they'll send a plain clothes to pick you up."
When Andy got to her room she considered calling Sam, but it was past eleven. He's day had been as long as hers, he was probably asleep, she did not call. The bed was comfortable, sleep claimed her quickly. When she awoke on Friday, she could recall no dreams.
She was first aware of light creeping into the room by seven, but Steven's admonition came to mind, she rolled over, covered her eyes and went back to sleep. It was nine when she checked the bedside clock. She was really awake and weary of the bed. Andy slipped her feet out from under the covers and sat on the bed's edge. The bathroom was calling, that took top priority, but Sam filled her thoughts.
"Good morning, Sweetheart," greeted her call.
"Sam."
"So, how was last night?"
"Good, I'm going to be busy, but I'd go crazy if I wasn't. I miss you."
"I know, but this is important. The two weeks will be over before you know it." He reassured.
"What are you doing today?" Small talk was hard, crying was out, and 'I miss you' can be said only so many times.
"I'm finding us a car. We'll have new wheels when you get back." Sam was being as upbeat as he could. It helped.
"You're going to make me ride around in a dog, aren't you?" she teased.
"You might be surprised what I find. I am going to keep you guessing, you know." He chuckled, "That's part of my allure."
"Let's not talk allure, I slept alone last night." She said.
"This may surprise you, but my bed was as empty as yours."
She knew he loved her. She knew he didn't look at other women. She knew he did not cheat, but the thought of him touching another woman, much less being in bed with one, made Andy physically sick. She shook her head to get rid of the image. "I love you, being apart is really hard," she finally said.
"I know, Baby." He paused, but she said nothing so he continued. "Do you have studying to do yet?"
Their conversation continued for another five or so minutes. By the time they said good-by even Andy had run out of aimless chatter. She said she would call again tomorrow. After making her bed and getting dressed, she went in search of Jenny. She was on the back porch drinking coffee. Andy got a cup and joined her.
Jenny was the embodiment of what Andy thought a mother should be to an adult daughter. Their conversation began with the mundane, how was the bed, etc.? But before their conversation was over they had discussed love, life and the latest fashion; equals, but with one female far more experienced than the other.
It was just past eleven when the women came back in the house. "Carol, let's fix lunch. I only had a couple of pieces of toast with Joe early this morning and you have had nothing to eat. You must be starved." Andy admitted she was hungry. The salad greens and boiled eggs came out of the refrigerator along with leftover meat from dinner.
Steven called at noon. Since Andy was up, dressed, and fed, Steven picked her up at twelve thirty rather than waiting later. The room they spent the afternoon in looked like a classroom: teacher's desk, student desks, whiteboard. The bar running the full length of one side told even the most casual observer, this was no regular classroom. They spent the afternoon behind the bar, Steven talking, Andy listening and practicing. She left the room four hours later with a copy of Bartending 101 by Steven Bishop tucked under her arm. Her assignment, in her spare time, was to become familiar with the different classes of liquors. Steven explained, "I know it seems like a bartender just serves drinks, but a good bartender understands the origins of the contents in those bottles, too. It's that knowledge and experience that leads to new drinks and new ways to serve them."
"I don't think Carol Marcus is going to be coming up with many new drink combinations where I'm planning on working." Andy said. "But, you never know when something you know can come in handy."
"Of course, I don't know exactly what you'll be doing with this training, and have been instructed not to ask, but I wouldn't want you to be ill prepared for whatever because I didn't do my job."
"Thanks for your concern…and discretion. You can never be over prepared for a new assignment." Andy noticed they were pulling up in from of Joe and Jenny's.
"Since you'll have a long night, call me when you're ready. The length of our training tomorrow will depend on how much energy you have left for school. Remember comfortable shoes, you're going to be on your feet and moving for lots of hours tonight." Steven reminded Andy of a mother hen and it was endearing. He had her back in his own way.
"Thanks, Steven, I'll call." She walked briskly up the path and entered the house without knocking. Jenny had said to treat this home like her own, she was trying. She walked toward the back of the house to let her hostess know she was home, before heading upstairs to nap. She really just wanted some privacy so she could call Sam. Common courtesy required she wait just a little bit longer.
"That's quite a classroom, isn't it?" Jenny said when Andy went into the kitchen.
"Quite! I'm going upstairs to rest. Can I help you with anything before that?"
"Absolutely not! You really aren't adding one bit of work to my day. You're here to learn bartending and I get the pleasure of a little girl talk. This is a win-win situation. Go get your nap. What time do you need to be at work?"
"I need to be there at eight. What time is dinner?" Andy asked.
"Your dinner is whenever you get up. If we eat before you're up, I'll fix you a plate and leave it in the oven to stay warm."
"Jenny you don't need to do that."
"I know, but I'm going to. Get upstairs and rest. Your busy day isn't half over yet." Jenny replied. The look on her face told Andy that arguing was a waste of time. Andy smiled, turned and headed for the stairs. The phone was out of her pocket before she made it to her room. She said she would call tomorrow but that was way too long to wait.
"How's my girl doing?"
"I'm good. I'm going to crawl into bed and dream about my man."
"You are? Wet dreams?"
"You never can tell. Just thinking about him turns me on."
"I don't suppose you're going to tell him about me."
"I don't think so. He'd probably get jealous."
"With good reason."
"Absolutely, with good reason," she agreed, "I'm going clubbing tonight, how about you?"
"Probably not clubbing, but I am meeting the guys at the Penny later. Jerry says since I'm a bachelor again for a couple of weeks they wouldn't take 'no' for an answer."
"Sam, you're a bachelor whether I'm in town or not."
"No, Andy, I haven't been a bachelor for months now, whether you're in town or not. Most married guys I know aren't as committed as I am."
"I love you too."
"I know you do. Now go crawl in that bed and start those sweet dreams. You gotta be your best for your big night."
"Bye Sam."
"I'll talk to you tomorrow, Love."
-0-
It's hard to write about them when they aren't together. Sorry for the long break in the action.
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